Bomb



H. STIEB Sept, 28, 1943.

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Filed July 12. 1941 Hen 7' 595;) e29 .NVENTQR ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 28, 1943 STATE PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to improvements in bomb construction.

An object of the invention is to provide a bomb of generally improved design.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a bomb designed to afford increased penetrative power.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bomb constructed so that upon impact thereof an armor piercing missile is discharged therefrom.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a bomb of the aforesaid character which is equipped with a safety catch adapted to preclude accidental discharge of the shell or missile carried by the bomb. 3

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and appended claim.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing illustrating a practical adaptation of the invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the improved bomb set for release,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the same,

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the rear end of the bomb, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on line 44 of Figure 1.

With reference to the drawing, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, B generally designates the body of the bomb which is transversely divided, intermediate its ends, to provide a front section l and a rear section II. These sections are advantageously shaped to provide, in assembly, an exterior contour of approximately tear-drop configuration.

The front body section In is mainly of cylindrical formation tapered at the front end to provide a pointed nose l2 with the reduced rear end portion terminating in a fiat end face. This section is formed with an axial bore opening through the nose and designated by the numeral l3. Adjacent to rear end the bore l3 merges into an enlarged interiorly screw fitted counterbore l4. At the front and rear portions of the forward body section H] are formed, at diametrically opposed sides, radially projecting pairs of guide ears l5 and I B respectively.

The rear body section II has a gradually diminishing taper toward the rear end which terminates in a rounded tail portion ll. The forward end of this rear section is shaped to provide an exteriorly threaded stud l8 adapted to engage the socket aiforded by the counterbore it, while an annular flat surface about the stud is designed to assume abutting relation with the flat end of the forward section. The intermediate portion of the body section II is hollowed to v form therein a longitudinally elongated tapered chamber l9 while aligned bores 20 and 2|, of relatively small diameter, are formed through the end portions and in communication with the intermediate chamber.

Mounted to extend axially through the body section I I and slidable longitudinally in the bores 20 and 2| thereof is an elongated pin 22 advantageously tapered at the inner end and formed with a reduced section within the chamber forming an abrupt' shoulder 23.

Above the shoulder 23 the mills provided with a fixed collar 24 while at the rear end is formed an elongated loop 25. About the pin 22 issleeved a spring 26' compressed between the rear end wall of the chamber l9 and the collar 24 adapted to yieldingly urge the pin to a forwardly projected firing position. In the tail end I! of the bomb is formed a longitudinally directed slot 26 opening into .the rear and adapted to accommodate, the loop 25'therein to allow extension of the pin 22. In the rounded end of the tall I! are also provided, at each side of the slot 26, a pair of complementary notches 21 designed to receive the inner end of the loop 25 therein when it is disposed in a position at right angles to its set firing position for locking the pin in safety arrangement.

sides of the section II are extended a pair oi. levers 29 fulerumed on pins 30 extended through apertures in the intermediate portions of these levers so as to provide an arm of each lever inward of the section and an arm projecting outwardly thereof. A pair of compression springs 3| mounted in the forward end of the chamber I!) bear against the inner arms of the levers 29 to yieldingly force the same against stop projection 32 and tend to hold these levers in approximate radial positions. These springs also act to maintain the inner ends of the levers against the shoulder 23 of the firing pin to maintain the pin in rearward retracted position against the opposite action of a spring 26 sleeved about the pin between its rear end and the collar 24 and tending to project the pin forwardly.

Through a pair of apertures 28 in opposed In the guide elements l5 and I6 at each side of the front bomb section it! is slidably mounted a longitudinally extending trip rod 34 disposed parallel with the axis of the bomb so that its inner end is in registration with and adjacent the outer end of each lever 29 while its outer end protrudes forwardly of the foremost part of the bomb body. On each of these trip rods 34 are provided a pair of fixed collars 35 and 36, a compression spring 31 being sleeved about the rods between the guide 5 and the forward col lar 31 to urge the rod forwardly to a position limited by the rearward collar 35 which bears against the guide l6.

Within the bore of the bomb is carried a missile firing charge C, which may be of cartridge type formed with a flanged cap at its inner end. This charge device is disposed so that the cap fiange rests against the shoulder at the inner end of the bore i3 while the explosive and missile carrying shell portion extends along this bore from the inner end to approximately its medial portion. At its inner end this charge device is provided with a percussion cap centrally thereof which assumes alignment with the inner end of the bore guiding the firing pin. The outer end of the bore I3 is advantageously closed by a conical cover cap 36 which keeps the bore clean and reduces air resistance.

The rear body section ii may advantageously be formed of longitudinally split complementary parts mated, in assembly, by fastening pins or rivets 38, to facilitate assembly of the firing mechanism therein. This rear portion of the bomb body may also be equipped with radially and rearwardly directed fins 39 to accurately guide the bomb as it is directed toward its target, as from an aircraft.

Until the bomb is set in preparation for release the firing pin is locked in non-firing safety position by disposing the end loop in registration with the shallow grooves or notches 21, as shown at Figure 4. In preparation for release this loop is turned'to a right angular position in registration with the deep slot 26', the pin 22 being yieldingly held in retracted nonfiring arrangement by the action of the compression spring 3i against the inner arms of the levers which engage the shoulder 23 of the pin and compress the pin projecting spring 26. When the bomb strikes its objective the impact initially retracts the actuating rods 34, which protrude forwardly of the bomb body, to compress the springs 31 and swing the outer arms of the levers 29 rearwardly to cause forward swinging movement of the inner arms to release the firing pin which is pressed forward by the spring 26 so that its forward pointed end strikes against the percussion cap of the charge carrying cartridge like member C. This action efiects explosion of the explosive or projecting charge and discharge of the missile or projectile which travels through the forward end of the bomb bore i3 and discharges through the nose thereof. As a result of this action the bomb is exceptionally efl'ective for the penetration of armor or other bodies and is particularly efficient in the bombing of naval craft.

It is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the specific construction, arrangement or use illustrated and described and that considerable modification may be made therein within the spirit of the invention as dehaving an axial bore opening through the front thereof, a missile mounted in the said bore, a charge for projecting the said missile through the bore and the front of the body, a firing pin slidably mounted in the rear portion of the body and operable to fire the charge, a spring yieldingly urging the firing pin to charge firing position, a pair of pivoted levers mounted on the body releasably engaging the .pin, spring means acting to hold the levers against the pin to re-- tain the latter in retracted non-firing position, a pair of operating rods slidably mounted at the sides of the body, the said rods disposed to protrude forwardly of the body and operable to engage the levers to swing the same to firing pin releasing positions, and springs yieldingly holding the said rods in extended non-releasing positions.

HENRY STIEB. 

